What modern invention is meant to be helpful but is the opposite?

[HippyDays]

Snooze button…

I’m so used to it now I sleep through for ages hitting snooze. So today when I really had to get up early I didn’t. And missed my train.

I am blaming the invention of snooze rather than admit my own imperfection 😁

Autocorrect - when it insists on changing what you've typed (an actual standard English word) to the wrong word.

It's meant to be there to help me; not to force me to waste my time keeping deleting its 'help' and retyping the word I actually used and wanted several times until it has a huff and gives up.

Yep, and then I have to take the keys out of my bag or pocket to lock the car when I walk away. When I had to take them out of the ignition I was already holding them so I knew where they were. I just don't think there was a problem to solve in the first place.

Agreed, our DS has found several kitchen equipment things really useful. Although we are still looking for the perfect jar opener. Flatmate or the method my Dad taught me seem to work better than gadgets. Dad's method - teaspoon under the lip to release seal - doesn't work with all jars and still requires quite a steady hand.

One of my DC has a masters in computer science and even he can't get the home printer to work reliably!

Agree! I like my 25p basic manual one

These are lifesavers for people whose hands don't work properly.

Have not RTFT.
Printers.

What machine do you think that band are raging at? Printers. That's what

I agree! We have a battery operated leaf sucker and I can 10/10 recommend it - although, frankly we're "mulch it where it falls" kind of people, with the exception of one very slippery sloped path that this thing makes light work of. Puts them all into a bag which you then empty under a bush / into compost heap etc. Best of all, the kids call it "The Ghostbuster" and do the job for me, without bribe.

Touchscreens on everything. They are so incredibly temperamental - e.g. on stoves, where my mother's one will ignore you if you have a tiny bit of cooking oil on your fingertip but go ballistic if you put down a saucepan covering a bit of it. Give me a button to push any time.

Our modern habit of relying on smartphones to tell the time instead of wearing a watch. Endless fishing in pockets, juggling keys etc. just to tell the time. As opposed to a quick glance at your wrist.

The way all modern washing machines seem to have no choice between a 20 or 30 minute "quick wash" that won't clean your clothes properly, or a full on 2 hour 45 or 3-4 hour programme. What happened to the 90 minute programme that used to be standard?

Self checkouts in supermarkets. Aaaaargh. So inefficient, stressful and impersonal. (Though my DH loves them.)

Apps and accounts for everything. Standing in the rain or at the head of a queue struggling to download something with dodgy Internet or 2% battery instead of just being able to bloody PAY.

Those stupid bottle caps that are attached. I hate them

Duvet covers!! Evil things

Agreed!

Self checkouts - Coop gives a micro second to put item in bag, so nearly every item makes the fail sound. Sainsbury don't let you put your bags in the checkout area so the whole process takes ages. Some places you have to get the receipt to scan to be let out.

Two factor identification - some where it's an app are not great to use.

Heat pumps - lots of houses now have mold problems

Helpful for people with arthritis or Parkinson's, probably other conditions I don't have experience of. Ditto electric can openers.

I feel like there should be a parallel thread- things you said you didn’t need and now feel lost without 😅 (apple home pod thingy, kindle, blender!!)

willowpatternchina

Touchscreens on everything. They are so incredibly temperamental - e.g. on stoves, where my mother's one will ignore you if you have a tiny bit of cooking oil on your fingertip but go ballistic if you put down a saucepan covering a bit of it. Give me a button to push any time.

oh my god yes, or a dial to twist- touchscreen on cooker is infuriating!!!

also predictive text that turns well to ‘we’ll’ etc!!!

The method I use to open stiff jars is to turn them upside down and bang firmly on a flat surface.

Yes what's wrong with just giving a web address? Can we not type or click?

I get so much email that it's a virtually pointless way of communicating with me.

I have a push button for one of my cars, but when we bought our last one, I said no to one with the same year registration that had a push button because I preferred a key and thought I'd lose it if it wasn't hanging in the ignition.

It has actually been ok with the new(er) car, it just sits in the middle of the seats, but I totally know what you mean!

Our other car is older and still has a proper key.

Agreed, in what world is an app easier (for the driver) unless it's for a car park you use all the time.

Restaurant menus with QR codes.

Hmm, I'm not sure re DS and that one. He's a bit clumsy and I picture him doing this too close to edge of the work surface.

I love a car parking app. But I absolutely get infuriated that car parking via the app is sometimes MORE expenive? what the actual F. It's supposed to make everything easier and simpler.

Agree that menus on QR codes are annoying. I don't mind the ones where they liet you pay via a QR code... except when yo have to manuall yinput your card details and can't just use google pay. What is the point!?